CHAPTER XI _Zophar answers Job, and reproves him severely for his attempts_ _to justify himself; charges him with secret iniquity, and_ _contends that God inflicts less punishment on him than his_ _iniquities deserve_, 1-6. _Shows the knowledge and perfections of God to be unsearchable,_ _and... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Job 11:2. _SHOULD NOT THE MULTITUDE OF WORDS BE ANSWERED?_] Some translate, "To multiply words profiteth nothing." _AND SHOULD A MAN FULL OF TALK BE JUSTIFIED_] איש שפתים _ish_ _sephathayim_, "a man of lips," a proper appellation for a great talker: he is "a man of lips," i.e., his _lips_ are... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Job 11:3. _SHOULD THY LIES MAKE MEN HOLD THEIR PEACE?_] This is a very severe reproof, and not justified by the occasion. _AND WHEN THOU MOCKEST_] As thou despisest others, shall no man put thee to scorn? Zophar could never think that the solemn and awful manner in which Job spoke could be ca... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Job 11:4. _MY DOCTRINE_ is _pure_] לקחי _likchi_, "my assumptions." What I assume or take as right, and just, and true, are so; the precepts which I have formed, and the practice which I have founded on them, are all correct and perfect. Job had not exactly said, _My doctrine_ and _way of life... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Job 11:5. _BUT O THAT GOD WOULD SPEAK_] How little feeling, humanity, and charity is there in this prayer!... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Job 11:6. _THE SECRETS OF WISDOM_] All the depths of his own counsels; the heights, lengths, and breadths, of holiness. _That_ _they are double to that which is_, תושיה tushiyah, which we translate _that which is_, is a word frequent in _Job_ and in the _Book_ _of Proverbs_, and is one of the... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Job 11:7. _CANST THOU BY SEARCHING FIND OUT GOD?_] What is God? A Being self-existent, eternal, infinite, immense, without bounds, incomprehensible either by mind, or time, or space. Who then can find this Being out? Who can fathom his depths, ascend to his heights, extend to his breadths, and... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Job 11:8. IT IS _AS HIGH AS HEAVEN_] High as the heavens, what canst thou work? Deep below _sheol_, (the invisible world,) what canst thou know? Long beyond the earth, and broad beyond the sea, is its measure. These are instances in the immensity of created things, and all out of the reach of... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Job 11:10. _IF HE CUT OFF_] As he is unlimited and almighty, he cannot be _controlled_. He will do whatsoever he pleases; and he is pleased with nothing but what is _right_. Who then will dare to find fault? Perhaps Zophar may refer to Job's former state, his losses and afflictions. _If he cut... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Job 11:11. _HE KNOWETH VAIN MEN_] מתי שוא _methey shau_, "men of falsehood." _HE SEETH WICKEDNESS_] He sees as well what is _in man_, as what man _does_; and of his actions and propensities he cannot be an indifferent spectator.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Job 11:12. _FOR VAIN MAN WOULD BE WISE_] The original is difficult and uncertain, ואיש נבוב ילבב _veish nabub yillabeb_, "And shall the hollow man assume courage," or "pride himself?" Or, as Mr. _Good_ rather paraphrases it, _Will he then accept the hollow-hearted_ _person_? The _Chaldee_ giv... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Job 11:13. _IF THOU PREPARE THINE HEART_] Make use of the powers which God has given thee, and be determined to seek him with all thy soul. _AND STRETCH OUT THINE HANDS TOWARD HIM_] Making fervent prayer and supplication, putting away _iniquity_ out of thy _hand_, and not permitting _wickedne... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Job 11:16. _BECAUSE THOU SHALT FORGET THY MISERY_] Thou shalt have such long and complete rest, that thou shalt scarcely remember thy _labour_. _AS WATERS_ THAT _PASS AWAY_] Like as the mountain floods, which sweep every thing before them, houses, tents, cattle, and the produce of the field,... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Job 11:17. _THINE AGE SHALL BE CLEARER THAN THE NOONDAY_] The _rest_ _of thy life_ shall be unclouded prosperity. _THOU SHALT SHINE FORTH_] Thou shalt be in this unclouded state, as the sun in the firmament of heaven, giving light and heat to all around thee. _THOU SHALT BE AS THE MORNING._]... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Job 11:18. _AND THOU SHALT BE SECURE_] Thou shalt not fear any farther evils to disturb thy prosperity, for thou shalt have a well-grounded _hope_ and confidence that thou shalt no more be visited by adversity. _YEA, THOU SHALT DIG_] I believe this neither refers to _digging_ his grave, nor... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Job 11:20. _THE EYES OF THE WICKED SHALL FAIL_] They shall be continually looking out for help and deliverance; but their expectation shall be cut off. _AND THEY SHALL NOT ESCAPE_] They shall receive the punishment due to their deserts; for God has his eye continually upon them. מנהם ומנוס אב... [ Continue Reading ]